Scintigraphy evaluation of hyperthyroidism and its correlation with clinical and biochemical profiles

• Published in: BMC research notes Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 324 - 9
• Main Authors: Alswat, Khaled, Assiri, Sara Ahmad, Althaqafi, Raad M M, Alsufyani, Atheer, Althagafi, Abaad, Alrebaiee, Sara, Alsukhayri, Najd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 06.07.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Antibodies; Biological markers; C-reactive protein; Care and treatment; Comorbidity; Correlation of Data; Diabetes; Diagnosis; Disease; Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Female; Females; Goiter; Graves' disease; Humans; Hypertension; Hyperthyroidism; Hyperthyroidism - diagnosis; Hyperthyroidism - diagnostic imaging; Identification and classification; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical Overuse; Medical records; Medical research; Middle Aged; Patients; Peroxidase; Radionuclide Imaging; Research Note; Retrospective Studies; Saudi Arabia; Scintigraphy; Studies; Thyroid diseases; Thyroid gland; Thyroid hormones; Thyroid uptake; Thyrotoxicosis; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; Saudi Arabia; Thyroid uptake; Scintigraphy; Graves’ disease; Hyperthyroidism; Thyrotoxicosis
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05164-5

Hyperthyroidism is the excessive synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thyroid uptake scans and ultrasonography provide an accurate diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, especially when thyroid receptor antibody (TRAb) measurement is not readily available. This study explored the prevalence of various hyperthyroidism causes using retrospective scintigraphy results and evaluated their relationship with clinical, biochemical, and sonographic imaging parameters from patients who underwent Tc-pertechnetate thyroid scans between 2016 and 2019 in Taif, Saudi Arabia, where literature is insufficient. Furthermore, the inappropriate use of thyroid scanning in different thyroid diseases was evaluated. The study enrolled 207 patients (mean age: 42.5 ± 14.7 years). The mean free T4, T3, antithyroid peroxidase antibody, antithyroglobulin antibody, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels were high. Graves' disease was the most common diagnosis. Compared to toxic solitary/multinodular goiter, patients with Graves' disease were usually younger, used carbimazole during both the uptake and the scan, had an enlarged thyroid gland, and had higher FT4 and FT3 levels. Inappropriate thyroid uptake and scan use was reported in approximately 10% of patients, and 25% of the patients used carbimazole during the uptake and scan. Thus, better patient education is needed to avoid misinterpreting the scan results.